BEYOND HORIZONS

CHAPTER NINE

The cool breeze whispered through the dense foliage as they trudged deeper into the heart of the forest. The path ahead was shrouded in shadows, the branches overhead intertwining like skeletal fingers reaching out to grasp them.

"We have come a long way," Princess Sophie remarked, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue. "But we can't afford to let our guard down."

Alex nodded, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. "Agreed. We need to stay alert," he replied, his hand instinctively tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Martin glanced nervously at the towering trees, their twisted forms seeming to loom ominously overhead. "This place gives me the creeps," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lady Lysandra offered him a reassuring smile, her demeanor calm and composed. "Fear not, my friend. We are not alone in this," she said, her words carrying a sense of quiet confidence.

As they pressed forward, the forest seemed to close in around them, the dense un